"I'm sure" - Journalist says Aston Villa "continuing to monitor" 6'4 star Klopp wanted

Aston Villa are ‘continuing to monitor’ the situation of Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car as the summer transfer window approaches, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months and could be available in a cut-price deal after entering the final 15 months of his current contract.

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham United had a bid rejected for Caleta-Car in January after proposing a six-month loan deal that included an option to buy.

It’s claimed that Marseille value the centre-back at £15 million and were only interested in letting him depart the Stade Vélodrome on a permanent basis.

However, with his existing deal expiring next summer, Football Insider have now revealed that Villa have joined the race for Caleta-Car’s signature.

The report states that Villa manager Steven Gerrard and the club’s hierarchy personally scouted the Croatia international as Marseille beat Nantes 3-2 in a recent Ligue 1 match as they search for a more dominant defender.

And the 6 foot 4 rising star is no stranger to having admirers from Merseyside, with Liverpool coming ‘very close’ to signing him in the winter of 2021.

French outlet RMC Sport disclosed how Caleta-Car was ready to take off in a private jet to sign for Jurgen Klopp’s charges before talks broke down between the two clubs.

O’Rourke believes that Villa ‘will be looking to strengthen’ in the heart of defence ahead of next season and Caleta-Car will a player on the club’s radar.

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He told GiveMeSport: “Caleta-Car has been a long-term target for a number of Premier League clubs in the last few years.

“The Croatian